diff --git a/modules/openstack-ci-config/files/zuul/layout.yaml b/modules/openstack-ci-config/files/zuul/layout.yaml
index fe4d717be3..6caec503f0 100644
--- a/modules/openstack-ci-config/files/zuul/layout.yaml
+++ b/modules/openstack-ci-config/files/zuul/layout.yaml
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ queues:
 jobs:
   - name: ^.*-merge$
     failure-message: This change was unable to be automatically merged with the current state of the repository. Please rebase your change and upload a new patchset.
+    hold-following-changes: true
   - name: gate-tempest-devstack-vm
     parameter-function: devstack_params